July 16, 2010

Eleven charged in connection with $6 million, multi-state marijuana operation

John Murray	Anthony Cenicola
Andrew Phelix	Bryn Eltringham
Kyle Ward	Ryan Berkheiser
Justin Beaulieu	Neil Tomnay
Josh Harris	Robert Sivec
Sarah Mulvihill

HARRISBURG - Narcotics agents from the Office of Attorney General today charged 11 individuals in connection with a $6 million multi-state marijuana distribution ring which stretched from upstate New York to State College, Pittsburgh, Fredericksburg Va. and Charlotte N.C.

Attorney General Tom Corbett said that the investigation began in 2007 when agents identified Paul Spara of State College and New York resident Jason Remington as large-scale marijuana distributors, allegedly bringing hundreds of pounds of marijuana into the State College area.

Corbett said that seven people were initially arrested in April of 2009 as result of the first phase of this investigation while agents continued working to identify Spara's suppliers. 

"This is an example of how our narcotics agents work diligently to move up the supply chain," Corbett said.  "A major focus of our investigations is the distributors and traffickers responsible for shipping these drugs into our communities."

Evidence and testimony regarding the case was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today.

According to the grand jury, Spara was involved in a multi-state marijuana network headed by John Murray of Utica, N.Y.  

Corbett said that Spara allegedly established Murray as his marijuana source through Anthony Cenicola of Hamilton, N.Y.  Murray's alleged organization supplied dealers in Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina and New York.   

According to the grand jury, Murray had multiple marijuana sources in the Potsdam and Massena, N.Y. areas, identified as Andrew Phelix, Kyle Ward and Justin Beaulieu.

Corbett said that Sarah Mulvihill's residence in New Hartford, N.Y. was identified as a marijuana distribution center, processing area, repackaging location and a drug "stash house."

Agents estimate that Murray's organization distributed approximately 2000 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of $6 million, in New York and Pennsylvania from December 2005 to June 2008. 

Corbett thanked the Centre County District Attorney's Office, the New York State Police, the U.S. Postal Inspector (Syracuse, N.Y.), the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Massena, N.Y. Police Department and the Hamilton, N.Y. Police Department for their cooperation and assistance with the investigation.

The defendants will be prosecuted in Centre County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Patrick Leonard of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force Section.

Below is a list of the defendants and the charges against them:

John Murray, 35, 801 Arnold Avenue, Utica, N.Y., is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.

Andrew Phelix, 26, 74 County Route 53, Brasher Falls, N.Y., is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.

Kyle Ward, 25, 153 Carey Road, Massena, N.Y., is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.

Justin Beaulieu, 26, 53 Malby Ave., Massena, N.Y., is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.

Josh Harris AKA Josh Burkhart, 33, 2383 Peck Road, Waterville, N.Y., is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy.

Sarah Mulvihill, 29, 27 Tamarack Drive, New Hartford, N.Y., is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana and one count of criminal conspiracy.

Anthony Cenicola, 63 W. Kendrick Ave., Hamilton, N.Y., is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana and one count of criminal conspiracy.

Neil Tomnay, 25, 930 Dallet Road, Pittsburgh, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana and one count of criminal conspiracy.

Ryan Berkheiser, 25, 1313 Sassafras St., Bloomsburg, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.

Robert Sivec, 27, Crown St., Sidman, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.

Bryn D. Eltringham Jr., 25, 1504 N.E. 4 Court, Boca Raton, FL is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy.

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

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